Marcos not open to any dialogue on impeachment trial—Palace
President Marcos is not open to any dialogue concerning the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Malacañang clarified.
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro (Betheena Unite)
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the clarification following the statement of Senate President Francis Escudero that there is no need for the Palace to step in and resolve issues on the impeachment trial.
Escudero made the remark when he was asked whether he would agree to a dialogue with the President.
“[W]ala po akong binanggit na makikialam or open for dialogue ang Presidente when it comes to impeachment issues (I did not mention about the President being open for dialogue or offering to intervene when it comes to impeachment issues),” Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, June 17.
The Palace official stressed that the President can only intervene on issues related to bills and laws, but never on issues concerning the impeachment trial.
“Maliwanag ko pong sinabi na maaari lang po siyang makipagdayalogo kung hindi na maganda ang sitwasyon patungkol sa mga issue sa bills, sa batas (I was clear in saying that that the President can only hold a dialogue if the situation about issues on bills and laws is no longer good). But not with regard to the impeachment issues,” she clarified.
Castro hoped the clarification would reach Escudero, recognizing that his opinion about the matter was right.
“Sana makarating po ito kay Senate President Chiz Escudero dahil alam ko po na ang kanyang opinion ay tama, pero parang mali po kasi yung pagkakatanong sa kanya (I hope this reaches Senate President Chiz Escudero because I know that his opinion was correct, but it seems that the question was asked to him in the wrong way),” Castro said.
“Muli, uulitin ko po ah, hindi po open ang Pangulo sa anumang dayalogo patungkol sa impeachment trial or proceedings (Again, let me repeat, the President is not open to any dialogue regarding the impeachment trial or proceedings),” she added.